Lakeland official fighting spitting ordinance | Weird

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LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) - A Lakeland City Commissioner wants to do away with a 69-year-old ordinance that prohibits people from spitting on the sidewalk or grass.

Commissioner Don Selvage says the ordinance is outdated and was going to address the issue with the full board on Friday.

Selvage's plan to nix the spitting ordinance comes eight months after a man was arrested for spitting on the sidewalk or grass at 2:30 a.m. May 30 near Florida Southern College. The charge against Joseph Stoiber, 29, was dropped by prosecutors.

The Lakeland Ledger reports that police have filed charges for spitting in 17 cases since 2000.

Selvage says he doesn't believe bad manners or even disgusting behavior raise to the level of illegality.